Who we are

Most of our staff is based in our Auckland office. We also have a policy unit in Wellington and two field offices in Papua New Guinea. Our active group of interns and volunteers assist us in organising events and actions, or come into our offices to help out.

Oxfam New Zealand's Board helps set out the policy and strategic goals that guide our operations.

Our Executive Director

Rachael Le Mesurier

Oxfam New Zealand Executive Director Rachael Le Mesurier.

Rachael was a Regional Director with Family Planning New Zealand from 2000 to 2003 and held the position of Executive Director of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation from 2003-2010. Since then, she has consulted for a number of organisations, including UN Women, UNAIDS and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on a range of issues including human rights, gender equality, HIV and AIDS, and sexual and reproductive health across the Pacific and in New Zealand.

Rachael has been “a long-time supporter of Oxfam’s work and its approach that places human rights and gender equality at the very heart of development", and she thinks this is “a once in a life-time opportunity.”

She feels that “Oxfam delivers life-saving emergency responses and life-changing development projects and campaigns. I’m looking forward to working closely with staff, partners and the New Zealand community to achieve Oxfam’s vision and help New Zealand play a strong role in building a more equitable and sustainable world.”

Leadership Team

Sel Bradley, Operations Director
Sel leads a team that runs the IT, finances, human resources and management systems for Oxfam. He has previously been a CEO and consultant in the commercial sector and has significant business improvement and change management experience with large organisations.

Bert Maerten, Programme Director
Bert Maerten has been Oxfam New Zealand’s Programme Director since August 2013. Prior to moving to Auckland, he worked in Southeast Asia. He was Oxfam’s Associate Country Director for Vietnam. He managed programmes on land governance, pro-poor markets and voice & empowerment, with a strong focus on ethnic minorities. As East Asia Regional Campaign Coordinator, he supported national and regional advocacy and campaigning on issues such as agriculture, trade and climate change. Between 2008-2010, he led Oxfam’s global climate change campaign. In this role, he led Oxfam’s campaign teams at COP/CMP from Bali to Copenhagen and Cancun. Bert studied international economics and holds a Master in Science of Economics and a Masters in Business Administration. He has lived in Southeast Asia since 1999 and is originally from Belgium.

Gwen Green, Engagement Director
Gwen provides the strategic direction for all of Oxfam’s public Engagement activity which includes Fundraising, Marketing and Communications. Having joined Oxfam New Zealand following 15 years as a fundraising and marketing professional in the UK, Gwen is keen to ensure that every member of the New Zealand public immediately recognises the Oxfam brand and the importance of the work we do. When not focusing on the Oxfam brand, Gwen makes the most of the New Zealand great outdoors by tramping, skiing and scuba diving her way around the country.

Dr Jason Myers, Advocacy and Campaigns Director
Dr Jason Myers joined Oxfam New Zealand in October 2014 in the role of Advocacy and Campaigns Director. He provides strategic and operational oversight to the advocacy and campaigns team and works closely with the Director group to ensure an integrated approach to this work. Jason has a PhD in social and cultural geography and brings with him a policy and research background in the areas of public health, HIV, human rights and civil society development. He has led social marketing campaigns and has worked in a number of representational roles in the Asia Pacific region.

Oxfam International

Oxfam New Zealand is an affiliate of Oxfam international confederation. The Oxfam international secretariat, based in Oxford, UK, coordinates the strategy and international advocacy programmes of the 17 Oxfam affiliates who are bound by its constitution and code of conduct.